Life is good

Life is good

It’s been a disappointing day. My super-secret fun thing that was supposed to happen this morning (SWAT team barricade training) was canceled just before I walked out the door. At 4:00 am. After rolling out of bed at three.

And then I got a rejection email for Blind Fury.

But so what?

In the scheme of things, these are minor things to be upset over. Much, much worse things could have happened.

I could be the reason the SWAT team got called out at three in the morning, for example.

And despite my disappointments, both incidents brought positives. I got to go back to bed and get a full night’s sleep. A rarity these days.

The rejection had helpful, and even some positive, feedback. Sometimes hard to take, but always better than a generic “not for me” response. I even got a request for future work.

Bonus.

So in an effort to focus on the good things, because really, these are such tiny problems compared to a real bad day, here’s a small list of some of what’s good in my life.

I have an awesome family

My husband is gainfully employed

We’re healthy

Both cars are almost paid off

My computer works 😉

I get to write every day!

I’m alive

I could list hundreds of good things. I could go on and on. Under the avalanche of all the wonderful things in my life, those disappointments, inconveniences, and frustrations get crushed.

Reese’s peanut butter cups help too.

By tomorrow, the little knot in my gut will be gone, right along with the feeling that I suck as a writer and should quit now, and I will look at that rejection and be grateful to the agent who took time to not only read my entire MS, but to comment on what worked and what didn’t.

Stephen King said he could wallpaper a room with his rejection letters. Don’t let this get you down (easier said than done, I know). I think you’re a wonderful writer and I can’t wait to read your book. If they were willing to take time to give you feedback, they must have seen promise, as even in today’s economy with the influence of e-publishing bearing down on publishing houses.

Your gratitude list makes me appreciative for the things I have too even if not all goes as planned all the time.

That’s a very healthy attitude, hopefully you are 100 percent sincere about it or maybe you’re trying to give yourself a pep talk? Either way, you are doing what you love so really in the end that’s all that matters. Right? You could be stuck in a cubical listening to Milton mumble about his stupid stapler.

Personally I would love to wallpaper my entire home office with all your rejection letters, so get crackin!

Curtis

O.K. it’s the next day. 🙂 How’s it rolling? None of those, ” I suck as a writer” thoughts right? You didn’t think I was going to let this slide did you? I know the only way I will ever be able to read your submitted fiction is when it shows up between two covers and I order it from Amazon.

Please note, I’m not getting any younger. Let’s get on with it. 🙂

A rejection slip with comments. Outstanding. Frame it. You will need stories like that when you write your, ” How to Write Fiction”.

Yes, you’re blessed–in life and as a writer. It will happen. I’m so excited for you that you received a request for future work. That’s the best kind of rejection to get (from what I hear).

I’ve been a little mopey recently, wondering how I couldn’t have heard yet from the editor and agents who have my ms. I think the worst kind of news for me would be never getting a response at all, as I hear can happen often since the business is so hectic.

I wait and see, count my blessings like you, and work on my next book.

Thanks, Jolyse. It’s good not to lose sight of what we have for sure. And you’re right about feedback being better. I used to get none, so it’s an improvement. I’ve also had agents/editors that have never gotten back to me, but most of them do. It’s not an easy business.

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Gwen Hernandez is the author of Scrivener For Dummies, the Men of Steele series of romantic suspense, and Productivity Tools For Writers. She provides Scrivener training through ScrivenerClasses.com, private instruction, and in-person workshops. Thanks for visiting!

Gwen Hernandez is the author of Scrivener For Dummies, romantic suspense (Men of Steele series), and Productivity Tools for Writers, and a contributor to Author In Progress. She teaches Scrivener to students all over the world through her online courses, private training, and in-person workshops.

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